Natalie's Heart Valve Journal

Gabrielle posted a note for Natalie that says: Many thanks dear Natalie!
Gabi x

gabrielle Stinson posted a note for Natalie that says: You are an inspiration Natalie T!!! Would you kindly tell me the main ingredient in Excedrin please? I am thinking that it is a brand name and I would like to find the equivalent here in Australia. Keep up your wonderful progress. Gabi x

Aloha from Kauai! What wonderful news Nat!
So happy for you and you know it was your strength and determination that made this go so well. Keep it up.

Love,
Vickie & Jim

Great news Natalie! You are an inspiration to us all. Look forward to seeing you all soon. Gretchen

Great news, Natalie! And great to see you, Jack and your dad the other day!

Debbie

Sounds like you are doing great! Way to go with the running, too! The sternum discomfort will hopefully gradually go away...you are a stud!!! Thanks so much for the update! Hope to see you soon!

Great update Natalie!

Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick

Natalie: I know you are going to have a very special Christmas this year! It sounds like, despite some aches and pains, you are doing great! Don't over do it! Have a wonderful and blessed holiday season!
The Randall's

Hi Nat,
You never cease to amaze us. It is hard to believe it's been 13 weeks however because you have done so well and are such a trooper that's what has made it go fast for all of us. Keep up the good work & congrats on all the good news about blood work. Hope to see you over the holidays!
Love, Vickie & Jim

Wow 13 weeks and you really are doing remarkable. I know you are not at 100% but you will be very soon. Remember how far you have come. Lots to be thankful for this Christmas. Loved the Christmas card and hopefully we will get to see you all over the holiday. Love Gretchen

Dear Nat,
Wow, keep up the great work!!!! As we said before, you have been amazing through this and know you will continue to keep getting stronger. Hang in there with the steroids and hopefully the doses will continue to go down. Keep your beautiful smile and faith. Hope we get to see you soon.
Love you,
Vickie & Jim

Natalie: I'm so happy to get an update! It sounds like you are doing so well, and probably doing more than you should ;) but that is to be expected, too! Hope you are able to lay down for a bit each afternoon and rest!? I know that rest promotes healing! Keep up the good work! We're praying for you every day! Jeff and Kelly Randall

Hi Nat,
So good to hear you're getting along well. It is hard to believe it's been 5 weeks. You have done an amazing job in your recovery. Of course we all knew you would.

We know it's hard to go back on the steroids, remicade, etc. but it's what has to be. And our prayers are with you in that it will be a short duration and your disease will go back in to remission. Keep your faith and your beautiful smile. Hope to see you and the family some time soon.

Much love,
Vickie & Jim

So glad for the update, Natalie! We've been thinking about you!

Bob and Debbie

Nat,

So glad to hear you are getting some energy back whether it's drug induced or not! I'm sure it will bring up your spirits! Just know we are all thinking of you and hope your recovery continues to go smoothly each day! Luv, C4Penzler

Hey Natalie,
Your right Advil does last a long time. I take one with a tylenol in the morning and usually don't need anything again until 5 pm. Have u ever tried migralief for ur headaches? I find when I take it I have a lot fewer migraine. I talked to my neorologist about it once and says many of her patients benefit from a magnesium supplement. Glad to see ur feeling better.
AVR/PFO Closure 9/25/2012
Carolyn

We are so proud of you! You are so strong! You are a fighter and you amaze me by your strength. If there is anything you need please let us know. We are still praying for you and thinkinging of you, Jason, and the twins.
Taylors
Kelly,Karen,Trace and Evan

Good for you Natalie! Stay strong... a year from now, this will all be history!

Enjoy the nice weather!

The Kates'

We're so glad you're feeling better, Natalie! Keep it up!

Bob and Debbie

Natalie,
Just read your "update"..so happy that you are doing so much better..you are in our "many thoughts" and "prayers" and we are all rooting for you..don't try to be "superwoman" and overdo it!!!
Hugs..Carol, Bob and Lois XO

Natalie: This is such great news! I'm so glad your back pain and headaches are getting better, and each day you are feeling stronger! Just remember...you've gone through a major surgery, so take care of yourself! You have some wonderful nurses, and so many people praying for you!
Thanks for the updates. We really appreciate them! Kelly

Great news on your superior healing abilities! I went for a long walk yesterday and it reminded me if our half marathon training days. Even though we can't train together we might have to do a race again together someday. I'll let you recover though ;-) Love- Laura

Hi Natalie..
Congrats on turning a corner. It is truly amazing how quickly "normal" comes back to our lives after what our bodies have been through. How wonderful the Grandmas can help with the children....family support is such a big part of this journey!
Thinking of you as you continue your recovery.. :)
Connie T

So happy to hear this news Natalie. Hope you continue to heal and get stronger everyday!
Lisa and boys

Hi, Natalie! I'm so glad you are home safe and sound. Sorry you are uncomfortable but I bet every smile from the kids makes things a little more bearable. Hang in there. Thanks for keeping us posted on your progress. Don't want to call and bother you.
LORI K.

Hi Natalie, Glad you are doing good too. Everybody was right surgery wasnt bad but it is a long road back. But I am enjoying grazing on down the mountain. Keep up the good work.
Mooing all over
LInda H and Elsie AVR 9/19/12

Sorry to hear things are going slower than you hoped for, but mom & Super J are right! You have been through a lot! This wasn't a "standard" procedure. And you have done remarkable...take it easy and don't over-do it. You'll be up and going in no time...running after a couple little people and hopefully having some sushii with Tony & I (Jason can come too)! Ha! :)

Love,
Gina

Keep up the good work, Natalie! I've been absent here for a while after my surgery. It's like it took all my mental energy to heal and I didn't have any left over to keep up my journal. However, I'm at 10 weeks today and sooooo much better than I ever thought possible. There are LOTS of ups and downs along the way but don't let them get you too down. You WILL come out the other side, I swear!

Cheers,
Summer

Hi Natlie, Welcome to being back home and the other side. I too got home yesterday, but I only had 1 hour to drive and I was worn out after that. So here to a speedy recovery for both of us. Want to race down this mountain, well walk maybe.
Hang in there the work has just now begun.
Mooing on down
Linda and Elsie AVR 9/19/12

Natalie I am so glad you made it through everything. I am happy to hear you are home. We all really enjoyed seeing the twins and Jason at the birthday party. If you need anything at all please do not hesitate to let me know. Sending you lots of love and prayers. Julie and the kids!

Hey Natalie! I know you are happy to be home...sleeping in your own bed!
After I had open heart surgery (many years ago!) I had terrible back pain! I couldn't believe how bad my BACK hurt! It will get better, but definitely not a side effect I was prepared for, either! Hang in there! I am so proud of you...walking on the treadmill? Love it!

Welcome Home Natalie!!
It was so good to hear that you are safely home! You have been in our many thoughts...after reading your note, I have decided to get up off my "..." and start walking on my treadmill...see what an "Inspiration" you are to all of us!
Love you dearly,
Carol, Bob and Lois (she may be walking with me!) XO

So happy you are now home. You've been in our thoughts and we continue to wish only the very best for you and your family. Love, David & Marsha

Dear Natalie & Rhonda,

I'm so happy for you to get to fly I know you want to get home as soon as possible.
We'll send prayers for your safe and pain free trip.
Love, Ma & Grandad

Dear Natalie & Rhonda,

Thinking of both of you and wishing you a "safe trip" home. Natalie, you have been an inspiration to all of us!!..Good Luck on your flight and just keep thinking..."I'm almost home" and will be seeing Jason, Jack and Leah SOON!"..and then..the celebration will begin!!...Happy Birthday sweet "Leah and Jack"...you have both been blessed with an "awesome Mom, Dad and very special family!!!..Much Love, Carol, Bob and "Furry Girl"..."Miss Lois"...XOX

Hi Nat & Rhonda,
Great news!!! So glad you are cleared to head home. We know it will be a long day but you are strong and just knowing you get to see Leah & Jack will help a lot. Have a very safe trip home. See you soon.

Love,
Vickie & Jim

Happy Birthday to Jack and Leah! And so excited to hear you're headed home tomorrow!

Bob and Debbie

I'm so glad that you get to come home tomorrow. I'm sure you will have a wonderful homecoming courteous of the twins. Safe travels and we will see you soon.

If there is anything Jerome and I can do when you get back let us know. I have been practicing on my laundry skills, so I'm ready when you need me. :)

Happy Birthday, Jack and Leah. I'm excited to see them tonight.

Glad to see you are coming home tomorrow. Let me know what I can do help out during the day...Martha

I have been thinking about your homecoming so much today! I know you are so excited! Take care, and have a great birthday celebration, too!

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY TO JACK AND LEAH!!! Those 3 years have flown by! Best of Luck tomorrow on the trip home. You will do great! Seeing the birthday babies and sleeping in your own bed are a HUGE incentive!!
XOXO,
Tora

It's great that you're getting to come home and that you get to see Jason and the twins!I know that the twins are 3 years of age now and not babies but they will always be your babies.You are an inspiration to all of us.hugs Heide and Mark

Yea!!!! Natalie gets to come home! Can't wait to see ya girl!
Hard to believe the little ones are 3 yrs. old today! I remember where I was 3 years ago today!!! LOL I was just trilled to be able to eat more than 2 bites without feeling like I was going to explode...and the sound of Cassie walking down the hall with liquor bottles clinking around in a bag...aahhhh!! :)
Let me know if I can do anything when you get back...I'm more than willing to lend a hand!
Love ya lady!!! Gina

Happy birthday to Jack and Leah!

Did I read that right? You are coming home tomorrow? WOO HOO! I am sure it will be wonderful homecoming. Stay strong.
Love, The Kates'

Oh Nat - I can't wait for you to get home. I know you have to be bummed about going back on steroids, but at least you know that they have checked everything out and you can get on your way back to remission. I can't believe how strong you are about every trial that you face. You are amazing and you can do this!

I know you are so excited to be going home on Friday! I agree, that steroids can have tricky side effects, you have so many people around you to help as you figure it out! I think it will be an easier task this time around! Keep resting and getting stronger! Love, The Randall's

Dearest Natalie & Rhonda,
Just read your latest update...Natalie, you are truly a "gifted writer" along with all your other talents, strength & "determination" ...Thank you so much for sharing this "incredible journey" with all of us..we all feel, I'm sure, that you are "our girl" too, and we love you dearly and feel so emotionally attached to you and what you have been thru, along with your dear and loving family ...you truly make all of us "better & stronger" people after knowing what you have been through,(Surgery, being without your beautiful Leah and Jack and now Jason) and eveything else you have gone thru, with such "class and grace"...Do you know how much you are loved and thought about and prayed for thru the day!!!...You have made us all believers..."anything is possible"!!!...Keep up the "fight" and keep being that "overchiever" and be a "cheerleader" for ALL of us!!!...We love you dearly...Carol, Bob and "Furry Baby Lois" XO

Dear Natalie and Rhonda,

Thanks for the informative message. You have a great attitude and I know how determined you are. We will pray for remission I know it will be soon.
Our love and prayers,
Ma & Grandad

Wow! So much to report in just a day! YOU are amazing, Natalie, and I know you will handle this next round of meds like a trooper, just like you always do. I am so sad it was not the report you wanted, but you are absolutely right. Better to know about it and treat it, instead of it sneaking up on you!!
XOXO!
Tora